Although we manufacture one hundred types of mobile phones, we current

Question

Although we manufacture one hundred types of mobile phones, we currently limit our stock to only the ten best-selling models. Our plan is to increase the number of mobile phones we sell by expanding our stock to contain the twelve most popular types.

Which of the following, if true, points out a major weakness in the plan above?

Which of the following, if true, points out a major weakness in the plan above?

A. The capabilities of the four most popular mobile phones are approximately equivalent, with no model having consistent superiority in all respects.

B. The nine most popular types of mobile phones account for almost all mobile phones sold.

C. As the users of mobile phones have become more sophisticated, they are more willing to buy less well-known models.

D. Less popular types of mobile phones often provide less profit to the retailer because prices must be discounted to attract customers.

E. The leading type of mobile phone has been losing market position to less popular types that offer similar capabilities for less money.

Jowey · Answer

Hello,
Can someone please explain to me why it's answer B and not E:
B. The nine most popular types of mobile phones account for almost all mobile phones sold: this says "almost" so an increase in models can actually still lead to increase in numbers. the argument does not mention a target amount to be sold so a small increase could still be considered.
E. The leading type of mobile phone has been losing market position to less popular types that offer similar capabilities for less money: This can lead to a decrease despite adding two models which will weaken the argument
What am I missing here?
Your help is greatly appreciated ! Thanks

nikhil88ah · Answer

HI,
its talking about the expanding the line of prod to 12 from 10 in their plan for which we have to find a loophole..But in E its solely talking about the top most one ..so kinda irrelevant

saicharansingh · Answer

Why E is wrong?

The option E says "The leading type of mobile phone has been losing market position to less popular types that offer similar capabilities for less money."

But, it does not explicitly say that the leading type is losing market to the 13th-100th popular ones.

It might be possible that the leading type is losing the market to the second leading one.

E survives the best case scenario but does not survive the worst case. So, incorrect

ankur9589 · Answer

The less popular mobiles can be 11th or 12th popular mobiles, hence E is incorrect.

Posted from my mobile device

NHUANH · Answer

In B, 9 most popular already cover almost all number of phones sold. Therefore expansion of models may not contribute significantly to the increase of number phones sold.

On the other hand, option E state that the leading type (we don't know what the definition of leading is, #1,#2 or #3) has been losing to less popular (may be #6 or #100). Because option E provide us information with 50-50 probability, it is not enough for us to draw conclusion that the company should extend its models.

Side note: we have an interesting lesson GMAT that any option provides us information with 50-50 probability to draw conclusion is a huge red-flag, be it DS or CR.

arbazfatmi1994 · Answer

E - "The leading type of mobile phone has been losing market position to less popular types that offer similar capabilities for less money."

Is wrong because it lacks context.

The less popular mobile phones could be from out of the top 10 list

Similarly option C is also wrong, because it lacks context

djangobackend · Answer

A - okay if the top 4 are similar then yes addition of two more which may be different MIGHT help increase the number of units sold. - mildly strengthens

B - if 9 account for "almost all" of the phones sold then it decreases our belief that addition of two more will add to increase in number of units sold. confidence decreases so weakens

C - strengthens - hints that people will be interested in exploring "less known" or "new additions" of phones so number of units sold might increase

D - "less profit" is not the concern here, we have to "increase number of units sold", now if they are sold at loss, profit or net zero, we do not care as long as our goal of increasing the number of mobiles sold is met.

E - if best phone is losing market to other cheaper similar phones then we should probably add more variants (those 2) so that we can compete better in the market and increase our number of units sold by adding those two which MIGHT actually override our "loss of market position" happening due to leading phone

arushi118 · Answer

Bunuel ,  KarishmaB 
Why can it not be E? 
Why I did not choose B: even if the nine most popular phones account for almost all mobile phones sold, then also adding the 11th and 12th most popular types will increase the number of phones - even if by a very small account.

guddo · Answer

Although we manufacture one hundred types of mobile phones, we currently limit our stock to only the ten best-selling models. Our plan is to increase the number of mobile phones we sell by expanding our stock to contain the twelve most popular types.

Which of the following, if true, points out a major weakness in the plan above?

Which of the following, if true, points out a major weakness in the plan above?

They stock only the 10 best sellers and want to sell more phones by stocking the 12 most popular types instead.

(A) The capabilities of the four most popular mobile phones are approximately equivalent, with no model having consistent superiority in all respects.

This is about features, not about whether adding 2 models increases total sales.

(B) The nine most popular types of mobile phones account for almost all mobile phones sold.

This directly points out a weakness: if almost all sales already come from the top 9, then expanding from 10 to 12 adds types that contribute very little to total sales. So the plan is unlikely to increase sales much.  This most directly undermines the plan’s assumption.

(C) As the users of mobile phones have become more sophisticated, they are more willing to buy less well-known models.

This actually suggests adding models beyond the top sellers could help, so it supports the plan rather than weakens it.

(D) Less popular types of mobile phones often provide less profit to the retailer because prices must be discounted to attract customers.

This attacks profit, not the stated goal (increasing number of phones sold). It could be a drawback, but not a direct weakness in the “sell more units” plan.

(E) The leading type of mobile phone has been losing market position to less popular types that offer similar capabilities for less money.

This says demand is shifting to less popular types, which could support stocking more variety. Not a clear weakness.

Answer: (B)

guddo · Answer

(E) doesn’t expose a weakness in the plan. It says the top phone is losing share to less popular types. But the plan is to add the 11th and 12th most popular types, and (E) does not say those are the ones gaining. The share could be shifting to the 20th, 40th, etc. So (E) is too unspecific to show the plan fails.

(B) hits the plan’s core assumption: that adding 2 more popular types will meaningfully increase unit sales. If the top 9 already account for almost all sales, then types 10, 11, and 12 together account for almost none. So adding 11 and 12 would add  negligible  demand. Your point “it increases sales a little” is true in theory, but the plan’s stated goal is to increase sales in a meaningful way; (B) shows the change from 10 to 12 is essentially irrelevant.  That’s the major weakness.

Although we manufacture one hundred types of mobile phones, we current

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Although we manufacture one hundred types of mobile phones, we current

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards